HBO's "Hard Knocks" is the ultimate NFL reality show. So it's no surprise that even the drama-filled 2019 Raiders didn't live up to the hype. Those who gave the 14th season of the training camp docuseries lukewarm reviews simply had too high of expectations.

Although there were some spotlight-worthy quotes from the two biggest stars on Oakland's marquee, coach Jon Gruden and wide receiver Antonio Brown, there were limited standout storylines elsewhere. But ever since NFL Films debuted "Hard Knocks" 18 years ago with the Ravens and rebooted it with the Chiefs in 2007, the show has never tried to force controversy that isn't there.

Instead, the goal has been to capture the intensity that comes with a one-month grind to prepare for the season. With that, the producers were still on point for this year's Raiders edition, which concluded Tuesday night.

Gruden's manner of coach speak was entertaining, but given his years on "Monday Night Football," he wasn't able to provide many surprises. The show also was challenged to provide something fresh on Brown's helmet drama, a story that already had become overblown and tiresome via the gamut of sports talk.

"Hard Knocks" did not suddenly go off the rails with the Raiders. The show simply stuck with what it does best: rookies, redemption and roster battles. Four of the Raiders' 2019 draft picks (Johnathan Abram, Clelin Ferrell, Maxx Crosby, Hunter Renfrow) got good screen time, but it was undrafted wide receiver Keelan Doss who shone brightest before becoming a tough cut.

Darren Waller showed the high at tight end, while Luke Willson hit the lowest of lows. No. 3 quarterback Nathan Peterman backed up Gruden's faith in him to make the team, only to land immediately on IR with an elbow injury.

So there wasn't one scene featuring rookie first-rounder Josh Jacobs to help share his inspirational path to the NFL. And neither of two veteran castoff acquisitions, guard Richie Incognito or linebacker Vontaze Burfict, provided anything film-worthy in the heat of practice.

But if you were not looking for something specific in "Hard Knocks," and just watching the show for what it is meant to be, this season was a rewarding five episodes. All the filming and the narration by Liev Schrieber was still top notch. And ahead of the Raiders' final season in Oakland, throwing it back to John Facenda and "Autumn Wind" in the opening credits was a great tribute.

"Hard Knocks" is not some football-themed amalgamation of "Survivor," "America's Got Talent" or "The Bachelor." There is no gimmicky competition, and there are plenty of major spoilers leading up to every episode. The job of "Hard Knocks" is to provide a new perspective to what happened the week before. For a game so fast, physical and mental, fans can appreciate more of it when it's slowed down and zeroed in on the emotion.

The Raiders' edition of "Hard Knocks" can be filed right under the rest: solid with spikes of spectacular. Between this and the success tied to "All or Nothing" on Amazon Prime Video, NFL Films documenting a camp or an entire season will continue to be a premium fixture.

So a new NFL team, one of 13 currently eligible, will be called upon to do its training camp time in front of the cameras next summer. The same reasons to watch will be there, too, regardless of how dramatic the choice of the Raiders' successor might seem.

For those who can't get enough of the NFL game as a whole or a team in particular, "Hard Knocks" is a good lens into harsh reality. For those who want some fantasy, there's plenty of that style of football elsewhere in August and early September.